Machine for separating fibers from fiber-yielding plants



MACHINE FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM FIBER YIELDING PLANTS T. G. BOOTH April 16, 1929.

2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 5, 1927 new (35000724 Hm. w

R QQ EMQQ X fix \s T. G. BOOTH April 16, 1929.

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM FIBER Y IELDING PLANTS 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 Filed 'DeG.

CAD

Patented Apr. lfi, ltlfliil.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

enemies e. noo'rrr, or nes'ron, MASSAGHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM FIBER-YIELDING PLANTS.

Application filed December 5, 1927. Serial No. 237,664.

This invention relates to improvements in a machine for treating the stalks of fiber yielding plants, such as, flax, hemp, sisal, ramie, and the like, thereby separating said fibers, which are valuable in the textile and cordage industries, from the woody boon which comprises a greater portion of the stalks and which, is of relatively small value as compared to that of the fibers, but which may be utilized nevertheless to great advantage in the paper-making industry.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine for separating the fibers from the boon in an effective manner without breaking or injuring the fibers, and this result is accomplished by employing a plurality of tapered fluted rolls grouped in pairs, the rolls of each pair tapering in the same direction with respect toeach other, and alternate pairs of rolls tapering in opposite directions respectively.

Applicant is aware that both plain and fluted rolls have been employed heretofore for breaking and opening the stalks of fiber bearing plants, but other means have also been utilized in conjunction with these rolls to aid in opening the fibers, with the result that the fibers have been so harshly treated that they are either injured and broken and their valuegreatly reduced. In the device of this invention the tapered rolls impart a biasing action to the stalks as they pass from one pair of rolls to another, with the result that the stalks are broken and opeifed and the been separated from the fibers in a much more effective manner than formerly and without injuring the fibers.

The invention consists in a machine for separating the fibers from the stalks of yielding plants as set forth in the following specification and particularly as pointed out in the claim thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation. of the opposite side of the machine from that illustrated in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, a, 5, 6 and 7 are vertical. sectional views through co-operating pairs of rolls which are utilized in treating the stalks.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through a device for combing the fibers as the latter pass therethrough.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through another pair of rolls.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows on said line.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectionalelevation taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows on said line.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the biasing action imparted to the stalks as the latter pass between the tapered rolls. Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 1 represents a frame and 2 1s a main driving shaft which extends transversely across the frame and is mounted in suitable bearings. thereon. ltigidly fastened to the driving shaft 2 at one end thereof is a driving pulley 3, and rigidly fastened to said shaft at the opposite end thereof is a gear 4, the latter meshing with a pinion 5 rigidlyfastened to a countershaft 6 which extends longitudinally of the frame 1 upon one side thereof. The counter-shaft 6 is mounted. ina plurality of bearings 7 fastened to the frame. Also rigidly fastened to the countershaft 6 are pinions 8, 9 and 10 Which mesh with gears 11, 12 and 13 in turn rigidly fastened to auxiliary driving shafts 14, 15 and 16 respectively, said shafts extending transversely of the frame 1 and being mounted in suitable bearings upon said frame.

The rolls which are employed in treating the stalks are arranged in groups A, B, C, D, E and F at the top of the machine, each group comprising one or more pair of cooperating rolls of the same type.

j The stalks are first conducted to the group A, which consists of a plurality of cylindrical rolls 17, see Fig. 3, mounted upon shafts 18 in turn mounted in bearings 19. Gears 20 are rigidly fastened to each of the shafts 18 and each pair of said rolls aregcared together in a manner to cause the material to be fed therethrough. The rolls 17 are uti lized to crush and break the woody been of the stalks.

From the group A of rolls the stalks are fed to the group B, which comprise a plurality of tapered rolls 21, see Fig. i, mounted upon shafts 22 turn mounted in bearings 23' upon the frame 1. The rolls 21. are provided with ribs 24 which extend longitudinally thereof for their entire length, and fast to each of the shafts 22 is a gear 25. The tapered rolls 21 are grouped in pairs, the rolls of each pair tapering in the same direction with respect to each other, and alternate pairs of rolls taper in opposite directions respectively. The feed space, furthermore,'b'etween each pair of rolls 21 is inclined in. the opposite direction tothe feed woody boon which constitutes the greater portion of the stalk.

From the last pair of rolls'21 the stalks I are delivered to the group C which comprises a plurality. of tapered rolls 26, see

Fig. 5, each of which is mounted upon a shaft 27 in turn mounted in bearings 28 upon theframe 1. Ribs 29 extend longitudinally of the rolls 26 for their entire length and gears 30 fast to said shafts are provided for the purpose of coupling the co-operat-ing pairs of rolls together. The rolls 26 are somewhat smaller in diameter than the rolls 21 and the ribs 29 of the rolls 26 are higher than the ribs 24. The rolls 26 are grouped in pairs and the rolls of each'pair ta'per in the same direction with respect to each other and alternate pairs of. said rolls taper in opposite directions respectively. c

From the rolls 26 the stalks of material are fed" to the group D, which consists of a plurality of rolls 31, see Fig. 6, each mounted upon a shaft32 in turn mounted in bearings The rolls 31 are somewhat smaller in diameter than the rolls 26 and are provided with ribs 34 which extend longitudinally thereof. Gears35 are provided for each'of the shafts 32. Each co-operating pair of rolls 31 is positioned in the same manner as are the rolls 21 and 26.

From the rolls 31 the material .is fed to the group E, which consists of a plurality of tapered rolls 36, see Fig. 7, formed integral with shafts 37 mounted in bearings 38 upon the frame 1. The rolls 36 are provided with longitudinal ribs 39 and the eo-operating rolls of each pair of rolls are geared together by gears 40. a'The rolls 36 are somewhat smaller in diameter than the rolls 41, but the'action thereof upon the material is practically the same as is the action of all the previously mentioned tapered rolls.

From the rolls 36 the material fed beneath a cross bar 41 see Fig. 8, in whichlare a plurality of pins 42 which act to comb and separate the broken particles of boon from the fibers. The material finally passes between a pair of rolls 43, see Fig. 9. The rolls 43 are cylindrical and are mounted uponshafts 44 in turn mounted in bearings 45 upon the frame 1. The rolls 43 are connected together by gears 46.

The various rolls are all rotated in unison and in the roper direction from the main driving sha t 2 and auxiliary driving shafts 14, 15 and 16, to each of which sprockets 47 and 48 are rigidly fastened, the sprockets 47 being located at one end of the shafts and the sprockets 48 at the other end thereof. Alternate pairs of rolls are driven from opposite sides of the machine and sprockets 4.9 are fastened to one of the shafts for each co-operating pair of rolls, and the latter are driven by a chain 50 which operatively connects a sprocket 47 with a plurality of the sprockets 49, certain of the latter being fastened to an upper roll and other sprockets 49 being fastened to a lower roll. In like manner, upon the other side of the machine sprockets 51 are fastened to certain of the shafts and chains 52 operatively connect the sprockets 48 with the sprockets 51 and the latter are so arranged that the rolls are driven in the proper direction to feed the material therebetween. It is evident that there may be any number of auxiliary driving shafts provided and a greater or lesser number of rolls may be driven from any one driving shaft, if it is so desired.

' The material is fed to the cylindrical rolls 17 by a delivery belt 53, and fed away from the rolls 43 by a discharge belt 54. A eonveyor belt 55 is positioned beneath the entire row of fiber separating rolls, said belt passing over pulleys 56, one of which is driven by a cross belt 57 from the drivin shaft 2 and said conveyer belt is utilize in collecting the broken particles of material which fall from the rolls as the material passes therebetween.

The general operation of the machine hereinbefore specifically described is as follows :-The stalks of material are fed longitudinally thereof to the rolls 17 by the delivery belt 53 and in passing between the cylindrical rolls17 said stalks are crushed and partly broken. The material then passes successively between the tapered rolls of the groups B, C, D and E, which act upon the stalks in the manner hereinbefore mentioned to open the stalks and break up the woody been and separate the latter from the fibers until the latter, to which some of the boon is still clinging, are delivered from the machine at the rolls 43 and deposited upon the belt 54. In passing between the tapered rolls, the material is given an added bias, tending to open the stalks, a result which has heretofore never been obtained by using untapered fluted rolls.

I claim:

1. In a machine for separating fibers from the stalks of fiber yielding plants a plurality of rolls grouped in pairs, each pair of rolls being provided with a feed space therebetween, the feed space between one pair of rolls being inclined in the opposite direction to the feed space between the pair of rolls adjacent thereto, and means to rotate said rolls.

2. In a machine for separating fibers from the stalks of fiber yielding plants a plurality oi tapered rolls grouped in pairs, the rolls of each pair tapering in the same direction with respect to each other, and alternate pairs oil rolls tapering in opposite directions respectively, and means to rotate said rolls.

3. In a machine for separating fibers from the stalks of fiber yielding plants a plurality of tapered fluted rolls grouped. in pairs, the rolls of each pair tapering in the same direction with respect to each other, and alternate pairs of rolls tapering in opposite directions respectively, and means to rotate said rolls.

4:. In a machine for separating fibers from the stalks of fiber yielding plants a plurality of co-operating cylindrical rolls for crushing and breaking said stalks, a plurality of tapered rolls for bending thestalks, said lastnamed rolls being grouped in pairs and the rolls of each pair tapering in the same direction with respect to each other and alternate pairs of rolls tapering in opposite directions respectively, and means to rotate said rolls.

5. In a machine for separating fibers from the stalks of fiber yielding plants a plurality of co-operating cylindrical rolls for crushing and breaking said stalks, a plurality of tapered fluted rolls for bending the stalks, said last-named rolls being grouped in pairs, and the rolls of each pair tapering in the same direction with respect to each other and alternate pairs of rolls tapering in opposite directions respectively, and means to rotate said rolls.

6. A machine for separating fibers from the stalks of fiber yielding plants having, in combination, a frame, a plurality of tapered rolls grouped in pairs upon said frame, the rolls of each pair tapering in the same direction with respect to each other and alternate pairs of rolls tapering in opposite directions respectively, and means to rotate alternate pairs of rolls from opposite sides of the frame.

7 In a'machine for separating fibers from the stalks of fiber yielding plants a plurality of co-operating cylindrical rolls for crushing and breaking said stalks, a plurality of tapered fluted rolls for bending the stalks, said last-named rolls being grouped in pairs and the rolls of each pair tapering in the same direction with respect to each other and alternate pairs of rolls tapering in opposite directions respectively, said tapered rolls also decreasing in diameter from the inlet toward the discharge end of the ma chine, and means to rotate said rolls.

8. In a machine for separating fibers from the stalks of fiber yielding plants a plurality of co-operating cylindrical rolls for crushing and breaking said stalks, a plurality of tapered fluted rolls for bending the stalks, said last named rolls being grouped in pairs and the rolls of each pair tapering in the same direction with respect to each other and alternate pairs of rolls tapering in opposite directions respectively, said tapered rolls also decreasing in diameter and the grooves and ridges thereon decreasing in size from the inlet toward the discharge end of the machine, and means to rotate said rolls. i

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS G. BOOTH. 

